BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Kern County Board of Supervisors is looking to add a measure to the June 2026 ballot to get voter approval on establishing a charter, according to the meeting agenda for Tuesday.

The Board is being recommended to adopt a proposed ordinance establishing Kern County as a charter county and approve adding the ordinance to the ballot in June, according to county officials.

Watch ‘After Sunrise’ on KGET+; Click to learn how to get KGET+ on your smart TV devices

On Nov. 4, the Board considered the pros and cons of adopting a county charter as well as the steps it should take.

Under California law, counties can adopt charters for “local self-government and home rule,” according to the agenda. The charter would affirm the county’s authority and preserves all powers granted to the county and its elected officials under state law.

The proposed charter would allow the supervisors to appoint or call for a special election to fill a vacancy on the Board of Supervisors, but everything else is still governed by general law, the Kern County Ordinance Code and the county’s Administrative Policies and Procedures, the agenda said.

The Board directed county counsel at the meeting to prepare a proposed county charter for Kern County, modeled after the Shasta County Charter, to potentially submit to the electorate at the June election.

The deadline for the Board to approve the proposed ordinance is Feb. 10 if they want to place it on the ballot for the June election, county staff said at the meeting.

A board of supervisors for the county can propose a county charter through an ordinance to submit to the voters for approval at an election.

If a majority of voters approve the measure, the charter would get approved once the election results are certified and Kern would become a charter county, the agenda said.

RELATED: Kern County Supervisors to discuss pros, cons of becoming charter county

Kern County is one of 43 general law counties in California, which means the county’s governmental structure is determined by the state constitution and general law, according to the county website.

Fifteen out of the 58 counties in California are charter counties. They include Los Angeles, Orange, Fresno, Sacramento, San Diego, San Bernardino, Shasta counties and more.

The election is set to be held Tuesday, June 2.

The Board is scheduled to consider the proposed ordinance during its meeting at 9 a.m. Jan. 27 at 1115 Truxtun Ave., according to the agenda.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.